Rewind This! (2013)

Home video changed the world. The cultural and historical impact of the VHS tape was enormous. This film traces the ripples of that impact by examining the myriad aspects of society that were altered by the creation of videotape.

Director:

Josh Johnson

Stars:

Ben Jousan, David Gregory, Micah Matthews

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ben Jousan	...	Himself - VHS Collector
David Gregory	...	Himself - Severin Films
Micah Matthews	...	Himself - ReeDistraction.com
Mike Vraney	...	Himself - Something Weird Video
Don May Jr.	...	Himself - Synapse Films
Brian Kelley	...	Himself - Home Video Aficionado
Kelly-sue Calderon	...	Herself - VHS Collector
Joey Gravis	...	Himself - VHS Collector
Heather Hankamer	...	Herself - Manager, Premiere Video
Tommy Swenson	...	Himself - Video Editor, Alamo Drafthouse
Frank Henenlotter	...	Himself - Writer & Director, Basket Case
Shôko Nakahara	...	Herself - Actor, Visitor Q (as Showko Nakahara)
Tom Mes	...	Himself - MidnightEye.com
Dimitri Simakis	...	Himself - Video Alchemist, Everything is Terrible
Zack Carlson	...	Himself - Author, Destroy All Movies

Storyline

In the 1980s, few pieces of home electronics did more to redefine popular culture than the videocassette recorder. With it, the film and television media were never the same as the former gained a valuable new revenue stream and popular penetration while the latter's business model was forever disrupted. This film covers the history of the device with its popular acceptance opening a new venue for independent filmmakers and entrepreneurs. In addition, various collectors of the now obsolete medium and its nostalgically esoteric fringe content are profiled as well.

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Plot Keywords:

sport utility vehicle | videocassette recorder | 2010s | 1980s | collector | 

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Genres:

Documentary

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese Spanish

Release Date:

27 August 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

Parakalo gyriste tin tainia stin arhi

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Imperial PolyFarm Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color (HD)

Did You Know?

Quotes

Himself - Troma Entertainment: Look, if idiots like Troma can make a movie that sells millions and millions of dollars of videocassettes, well then anybody can do it.

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Connections

References Liberty & Bash (1989)

User Reviews

An Entertaining Nostalgic Look at the History of the VHS

Rewind This was well-received in its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX. The film was particularly welcomed, because the filmmakers and many of the interviewees and video stores were local products. It is an extremely entertaining film that takes the audience through the history of how the VHS tape really transformed society. The clips of old VHS films are incredibly entertaining. There are many funny observations and stories about this world that seems to be fast disappearing. Thematically, the film shows us how the ability to watch movies on our own schedules in our own homes transformed the relationship of individuals to the entertainment world. For the first time, anyone could watch almost any movie in the comfort of their own home. We forget the social implications today of bringing movies (and, yes, porn) from the theater into the home. The film also explores the world of the nostalgic collectors who maintain large collections of VHS films that haven't been re-released on DVD and blu-ray. (They seem particularly obsessed with low grade horror movies.) There is a heavy element of nostalgia as they defend their beloved medium and its virtues. The film might seem strange to the younger generation, but it brings back a lot of memories for those of us who grew up during the VHS revolution.